The forgotten ILB ready to breakout in 2018

I think ILB is a bigger need than commonly discussed. Trevathan is an injury concern. Denying his knee problems is a bad idea. He might be young and talented but he's a risk. Behind him we have a career backup and special teamer in Timu and a liability in coverage, Kwiatkoski. I don't know how much of an emphasis Fangio places on and values ILB - though his time with the Saints and the 49ers suggests he values the position A LOT - but I think they could really use an upgrade there. This is one of the reasons I've been so high on Roquan Smith for the draft. He's an incredibly athletic LB with range and exceptional coverage skills. He can diagnose quickly and is competitive as hell. He's also high character. If he's not the guy, there are other options later in the draft - Josey Jewell from Iowa could fit - though he's not the athlete that fits in Pace/Fangio's mode. I think a guy like Leighton Vander Esch or Darius Leonard would fit that athletic versatile role for the Bears but the latter's availability in RD2 is UNLIKELY and Leonard would either have to fall to the 4th (UNLIKELY) or the Bears would likely need to acquire a 3rd to make him a value selection. 

Oren Burks might be a later round pickup who might be a somebody BUT he would need time to develop and wouldn't be a likely contributor on the defense his first year (maybe a Steamer). 

And the decision there - whether to spend a high or low pick on an ILB - should be a good indicator about how much they like/trust Trevathan. Edmunds is a good pick if they feel like they have time to work with him but he's got a lot to pick up and, as @soulman has pointed out elsewhere, the education of Leo Floyd is still a work in progress with questionable results. Do we want another project player or someone that comes in with an elevated floor and a slightly lower ceiling OR do we want another risky athlete. 

I'm cool with an Edmunds pick but I think it's a riskier move than a Smith and, while I like what little I've seen of Vander Esch, he's another one year wonder kid with some question marks. 

Like I said, I'm cool with that and it seems to be Pace's style to pick the highest ceiling player. I would go with the more polished player who has a high ceiling (maybe not as high). But I'm not the GM or a scout so whatever. I'd be happy with Smith, Edmunds, or Nelson and I have to believe our pick will be one of those three. I'm not sold on Landry. We'll see who Pace is sold on in another month. 

As far as Floyd, I just haven't seen enough from him yet to say he's a developed player. Injuries are an issue with him and I hope that gets resolved so we can all see if he's that elite rusher we want/need out there. The other thing that makes him difficult to evaluate is the pairing. We've been so injured at the OLB position recently that when on the field he's getting all the attention because there's no real threat on the other side. 

Kwiatkoski's ability has never been a surprise to me.  From the get go I've commented in his instincts and tackling ability and called him a poor man's Luke Kuechly.  He's a very good 3-4 ILB and gives us a solid starter next to Trevathan.

But with loss of Jones we do need to add some depth and I believe we will.  I don't believe we're going to camp with only Timu and Anderson as backups so I expect Pace to draft a LB as well as bring in some UDFAs and maybe even sign a vet FA.

Here's a list of the 2018 ILB draft prospects so take your pick.

www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/prospect-rankings/inside-linebackers/

I don't know that I see them taking Smith ahead of others on their board but drafting Edmunds gives us a kid who might be used at ILB and OLB for now and give us some depth.

One guy I do like, because I always find at least one Badger to draft LOL, is Jack Cichy.  His biggest problem is he can't seem to remain uninjured.  But IMHO he's another Kwiatkoski type whose worth a shot somewhere on Day 3 or as a UDFA.